Help stopping a dog chewing stuff?

Originally Posted by Ed

Muzzle?

errr... no! dogs should never wear muzzles unattended!

pm me if you need any advice

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

Tis the lab from the other thread I believe?

didn't see the other thread

Originally Posted by krhall

How do I? The bloody dog has chewed a pait of running shoes, a pair of boots and a carpet!

12 bore.

Doesn't seem very friendly to put him in a cage - he is alone from 8:30 to 3:00. He does get plenty of exercise though. Walk at 6am then one at 8am, then from 3pm - 4pm and then I usually take him for a decent walk at 10pm.

One thing that spring to mind is that he is not allowed to play rough, trying to shake a toy out of his mouth etc. I think he was used to this with his previous owner.

I don't have any issue with it but Mrs H was worried he would do it with the kids, who may be a bit scared.

Depends how bad the chewing is - my dog nearly chewed through a live cable, so it's safer too, especially if they are young and will grow out of it hopefully.

You could leave him confined to one room but again the boredom thing - those treat balls are good, they have to work out how to get the food out, makes them think and keeps them occupied. He's alone for 6 hours so it's likely he will become bored and chew if he has no distractions like you guys.

[punyXpress]

Originally Posted by krhall

Doesn't seem very friendly to put him in a cage - he is alone from 8:30 to 3:00. He does get plenty of exercise though. Walk at 6am then one at 8am, then from 3pm - 4pm and then I usually take him for a decent walk at 10pm.

Whatever you do...
Do NOT feel sorry for him!
As for boredom: Buy him an SV - it seems to keep half the mutts on here amused for months

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by krhall

Doesn't seem very friendly to put him in a cage - he is alone from 8:30 to 3:00. He does get plenty of exercise though. Walk at 6am then one at 8am, then from 3pm - 4pm and then I usually take him for a decent walk at 10pm.

its not all about being friendly...how olds this dog? Its more difficult for an older dog to get used to it...remember your not putting a human in the crate, its a dog! Dogs don't mind crates, like I've said before it gives them a sense of their own space and their place in the pecking order. Mine sleep under the stairs, I took the door off and put a dog gate up, they always sleep there, even with the gate open, they know where their beds are

Originally Posted by krhall

One thing that spring to mind is that he is not allowed to play rough, trying to shake a toy out of his mouth etc. I think he was used to this with his previous owner.

I don't have any issue with it but Mrs H was worried he would do it with the kids, who may be a bit scared.

Playing rough and 'tug' can promote dominance and can sometimes be an issue, especially with kids being around. Neither of my dogs are allowed to play tug, if they start tugging they get told to 'leave' and we don't play anymore, we play fetch instead...much more fun, they like playing that game because chase is never ending to a dog

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

Playing rough and 'tug' can promote dominance and can sometimes be an issue, especially with kids being around. Neither of my dogs are allowed to play tug, if they start tugging they get told to 'leave' and we don't play anymore, we play fetch instead...much more fun, they like playing that game because chase is never ending to a dog

As long you have the "leave it" command and the dog knows this then playing tug can be quite fun... but i NEVER lose, as soon as i feel the game is getting too much, i say leave and they let go, get loads of praise then we carry on with the game. Its all about commands and control, but i wouldn't advise children play tug with a dog. My dogs will not fetch, it just isn't in their nature. Its always good to find something your dog enjoys doing. Lupo loved playing rough and tug, Mina likes chasing squeeky balls... although she never brings them back!

[dizzyblonde]

I had a Basset years ago and we had to get a dog trainer in, as he was already 3 yrs old and had picked up bad habits, we were advised that tug for that dog was not a good game to play, I've always applied this rule to my two now, as we've had lots of dominance issues with the pair of them. Although just because it applies for us doesn't nessecarily mean it applies to all dogs.

Bob likes playing football, literally which usually ends up in fetch, but you let him tug and he'll pull your shoulders off, its why we make him 'leave'. he knows not to tug with us, although he does like tugging on Honeys ears an neck to get her to play, which usually results in the pair of em rolling each other all over the garden, both submitting to the other